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A tuner, in this day and age?

Lapslah

Lapslah

Super Member
Yesterday at GW I saw a Yamaha tuner (don't know what model). I had it in my hand and was halfway to the check-out when I thought, "What am I doing? I already have my old smart phone hooked up to my system, and through my home WiFi I can stream just about any radio station in the world. Why would I possibly need a tuner?"

I know there are folks here who love their tuners. Why?:scratch2:
 
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Well, where I live there are several college stations below 90.0 and with a mediocre antenna they come in clear and offer a great selection of music. Gotta love colleges for their willngness to play stuff nobody else will, both old and new. Then, there is a multitude of commercial stations...

and, I don't need an ISP!
 
Considering that FM had long been a staple of hi fi for many decades, that many FM stations feature a variety of programming for a multitude of tastes - some of which may not be otherwise available, that high quality performance can be enjoyed with an FM tuner of similar quality - and finally - topped off with the fact that hi fi hobby is a pastime that is enjoyed by millions -

that some may actually still enjoy FM - inconceivable as that may seem.

I don't mean to sound snarky, but the question is based on a premise that is not only short sighted but poorly thought out, in my view.
 
I have 14 tuners in the house. I listen to FM all of the time for background music. If not FM, I'm listening to vinyl. For one thing, FM is free. It doesn't require any monthly bill. I just think it's something special to listen to a signal that goes thru the air. I also watch some TV using my antenna......
 
Sometimes I don't want to fuss with changing records or CDs. So I just turn on the tuner. It's also nice to get a little news and/or weather once and a while.
 
Aside from the SQ of many online streamers being crap, not everybody has unlimited high-speed internet or can get it.
 
since we moved I have messed around with various antennas and still can't get 1/2 decent reception.

since most radio stations i really want to listen to are

a. NOT LOCAL

b. Have high quality AAC streams

I pretty much gave up on FM and pretty much stream radio from the internets on my PC / SMRT phone.
 
Like you, I also have my iPhone that when I feel like listening to stream line music I just plug into my Bose Soundock, Bose Soundlink mini or Bose Audio Adapter which is just fine and sounds great, various radio stations that I can tune into from other states, different music, etc., etc.

I have a small collection of various tuners that I have acquired over time (and still do). Personally for me, since as a kid, I remember having a kids radio kit that I assembled and would listen to radio stations with small headphones! I've always been drawn to radio's leading specifically to tuners. I just don't like any type of tuner. For me the tuner has to have specific details, features, unusual distinctive looks and quality.

The following is a list of tuners that I have in my small collection (and still looking and adding):

Lafayette LT-D10

Magnum Dynalab FT-101A

Akai AT-550

Akai AT-580

SAE 8000 (have two of these)

SAE TWO T14 (given to me by fellow AK'er Lawman)

Harman Kardon Citation Fourteen

Harman Kardon Citation Fifteen

Toshiba ST335MkII (have two of these)

Kenwood KT-5000

Pioneer TX-5100

Overall, I guess it all comes down to an individuals love of not only listening to the radio station but on what type of tuner that you enjoy listening on. Not that its important but the fun of its features, etc. of it.
 
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I like the surprise factor of being "unprivied" to the current playlist I'm listening to. It also opens me up to new music. I agree with WaynerN regarding the novelty of listening to music via airwaves.
 
OP, you need to take a look at the "Tuner Thread" how many Tuners do you own? Some list what most would consider "A Plethora". :)

As long as there is FM and as long as someone whom appreciates FM has an Amp, they will need a Tuner.

While I admit, I use mine infrequently because of Internet Streaming, I do use it on occasion.
 
Hold on there, Snarky! (just messing with you) I don't dispute the value of FM radio and its variety of programming, but at least where I live, all of the FM stations I can get over the air have a live stream on the 'net as well. Heck - sometimes I even hear myself on the radio, so believe me when I say I don't undervalue it. My question is this - if all of the content available over the air is also available over the 'net (actually much greater FM-based content over the 'net), is there a legitimate advantage to buying a tuner and receiving it over the air?
 
You can also stream interwebs tunes from your computer through your tuner with an FM transmitter. You get all your airwave goodness along with your ones and zeros! :D
 
Yes, there is - for the occasional time of emergency or internet outage or whatever, the radio is still available. Its even better if its cheap to add to your gear ...


... let the airwaves ... flow!


Lapslah said:
Yesterday at GW I saw a Yamaha tuner (don't know what model). I had it in my hand and was halfway to the check-out when I thought,
"What am I doing? I already have my old smart phone hooked up to my system, and through my home WiFi, I can stream
just about any radio station in the world. Why would I possibly need a tuner?". Why?:scratch2:
Click to expand...

So if the Original Poster already has HIS smartphone hooked to his gear,
why do the other posters feel the need to tell us they don't have no blinka blanka smart-phone
and won't never have one either, y'hear?

So they are luddites and not part of the conversation anyway ...!!
Why do the rest of us even need to know that?
 
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Lavane said:
You can also stream interwebs tunes from your computer through your tuner with an FM transmitter. You get all your airwave goodness along with your ones and zeros! :D
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I used to do this a lot with Sirius Radio. Hooked it up to a little FM Transmitter (before Sirius had FM Trans built in) and broadcast to the entire house on FM. Then I did it with Internet later. One Internet Tuner, many receivers via FM.
 
I find myself doing the same thing. Wondering why am I looking at some nice tuners pondering a new purchase? I already have some pretty nice tuners along with a nice outdoor omni. But that doesn't change the fact that there isn't a station in my tri-state listening area that's fit to piss on. Because of that I'm getting closer all the time to doing the smartphone thing. I honestly don't remember fm being this bad years ago.
 
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